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The oceans are vast expanses of water which cover about 71 percent of our planet and separate the continents. Millions of years ago when the Earth cooled from its molten state, water vapour in the atmosphere condensed to form water which collected in deep trenches on the surface, thus forming the oceans. Water on the land flowed into them in the shape of rivers, which carried with them an array of minerals thus making the ocean water, salty. The oceans are responsible for influencing the climatic conditions on the Earth besides providing us with minerals and food because they are home to various types of plant life, fish and other creatures. The Pacific Ocean which is the largest and deepest ocean covers about one-third of our planet followed by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Seas on the other hand are smaller portions of water with land on their sides. Under the surfaces of the water we find deep trenches and under-sea mountains which have risen from the sea bed, in some cases coming out of the water to form small islands.